Who can give me helpful advice on camera lenses?

March 6th, 2010 | by admin |

I want to photograph weddings/receptions, brides, egagements, families, etc. I have a Nikon D40 with the lens it came with. 18-55mm.

How can I learn more about photography? What lenses to use, and what equipment to have. I’m starting with nothing more than the desire to learn and cannot afford a four year program at a university. The community college here doesn’t offer a program and art schools are ridiculous. Help?

Talk with photographers. In person, in forums, local camera clubs, whatever.

Shoot pictures with purpose. Learn what your camera can do.

Study other photos. See what you like, what you don’t like, what you’d like to be able to do. Learn how to do those things, learn how to avoid things you don’t like, lens flares, motion blur, etc…

You can learn a lot in a few months. check out DPChallenge.com and join. Enter all the challenges. Vote on all the pictures. You’ll quickly learn what separates the men from the boys so to speak. There are some phenomenal photographers on there with a lot of knowledge to share. It should get your creative side thinking. Don’t participate in photography as a hobby, take the next few months and live it. Keep your camera handy. Its not about capturing a lucky shot. Its about MAKING a good photo.

Good Luck.

  1. 4 Responses to “Who can give me helpful advice on camera lenses?”

  2. By Caoedhen on Mar 6, 2010 | Reply

    Got a local library? Very good place to start.

    Read photography books with the word "basic" or "beginners" in the title to start. Once you understand exposure and focal length and light, then it is time to move up to books on portrait photography and wedding photography. If you start with those books, they won’t make any sense to you.

    Once you get your head wrapped around the ideas in the books, you will have a much better idea of what you need to be successful as a wedding and event shooter. You will quickly see that your D40 and 18-55 is a good learning tool, but inadequate to the task of shooting weddings.

    Good luck to you!
    References :

  3. By water_skipper on Mar 6, 2010 | Reply

    1. Answer questions on Yahoo Answers under photography and cameras.
    2. Browse ebay and other web sites to see what lenses are available.
    3. Learn what a "prime lense" is.
    4. Practice using your camera. Make sure you can use the aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, and manual mode. Also know what difference the flash makes.
    References :
    http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewAlbums2&friendID=86192111&view=true

  4. By Noneofyourbusiness on Mar 6, 2010 | Reply

    All I have learned about photography has come from three things.
    1) Books
    2) Wikipedia
    3) Trial and Error

    In my mind these are the quickest ways to learning… good luck
    References :

  5. By bbshady on Mar 6, 2010 | Reply

    Talk with photographers. In person, in forums, local camera clubs, whatever.

    Shoot pictures with purpose. Learn what your camera can do.

    Study other photos. See what you like, what you don’t like, what you’d like to be able to do. Learn how to do those things, learn how to avoid things you don’t like, lens flares, motion blur, etc…

    You can learn a lot in a few months. check out DPChallenge.com and join. Enter all the challenges. Vote on all the pictures. You’ll quickly learn what separates the men from the boys so to speak. There are some phenomenal photographers on there with a lot of knowledge to share. It should get your creative side thinking. Don’t participate in photography as a hobby, take the next few months and live it. Keep your camera handy. Its not about capturing a lucky shot. Its about MAKING a good photo.

    Good Luck.
    References :

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